Parental As Anything

Six hours in the classroom, then music practice and sport. Daily homework is a pain for kids and parents, and while lots of primary schools have lightened the load, it's still something plenty of families have to juggle. So how do you help your kids manage their homework without a battle? Maggie Dent chats to Maria Cook, the founding principal of Honeywood Primary School in Perth, about how to manage homework if your kids are getting it, and why you shouldn't worry if they're not.

Threats, bribes, shouting, and time-outs can work in the heat of the moment but when it comes to teaching your children to listen, do as they’re told and make good choices, discipline is a long game. So how do you do it right? Maggie Dent talks to the author of Discipline Without Damage, Vanessa Lapointe, about the best way to discipline your child.

Your screaming three-year-old in the supermarket; your eight-year-old losing it over a board game; your surly teenager slamming a door in your face — we’ve all been there. Kids are prone to tantrums, especially the little ones, but what’s the right way to deal with them? Maggie Dent talks to podcaster and author of No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame, Janet Lansbury, about how to manage meltdowns in our children, especially once they’ve passed the point of no return. Maggie has some fantastic advice for you on how to pause, breathe and avoid getting angry at your children.

Is your child on Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook? Ninety-one per cent of Australian teenagers use social media. And it has changed everything you know about how kids bully each other. Bullies used to torment their victims in the schoolyard. Now they can reach your kids any time of the day or night. They can even use anonymous accounts on platforms you’ve never even heard of. So how do you keep your tweens and teens safe from the mean kids and what do you do if they’re bullied online? Maggie Dent talks with Rachel Downie, founder of the website Stymie which supports kids and students being bullied online.

WARNING: This episode includes strong language and discussions of youth suicide and self-harm.

For more information or support contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Parentline 1300 30 1300https://www.parentline.com.au/

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Make an anonymous notification about a student being bullied or harmedhttps://stymie.com.au/

Building cubbies, make-believe, dressing up - while it might just look like fun and games, play is actually crucial for your child's development. The problem is, as Australian kids spend more time at school, on their screens and in structured activities, they're not playing enough. Maggie Dent talks with expert Robyn Monro Miller about why kids of all ages need to play more. Plus, Bluey creator Joe Brumm chats about why play is the key to the success of Australia's most loved family of cartoon dogs.

Football, dance, art classes, karate and scouts. The extracurricular activities your kids can do are endless. But with so many on offer, are you getting the balance right? Maggie Dent talks with Positive Schools creator Dr Helen Street about the pros and cons of extracurricular activities for your children — when and why you should sign them up, what's the right amount and what are the signs you might be overdoing it.

Research shows Australian kids spend a third of their day in front of a screen. What's that doing to them? How much is too much? And how do we deal with a techno tantrum? Maggie talks to digital wellbeing expert Dr Kristy Goodwin to find out how we can best raise our kids in the digital age.

One of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators Maggie Dent gives you tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas — screen time, tantrums, building resilience, homework and more. Over 10 episodes, Maggie will give you a common sense, relatable, practical guide on how to raise kids of all ages. The first episode launches May 28.